RSV550? Yes please

[EvilSteve]

The article was saying that they'd make the engine more reliable which would be nice.

I saw one of the rs-xv projects a while ago too. I would be surprised if Aprilia wasn't considering a sport bike based on the 450/550 motor from the outset.

[fasterblkduc]

Love the idea, but would this be the same engine that requires a rebuild every 70 hours or so?

No they don't. There are several guys racing these in tard form against SV650s and absolutely dominating. You are thinking of singles.

[TAftonomos]

I had to search for my bookmark but I just found it...this is by far the best example yet. I really can't imagine anyone doing a better version than this guy did. Check it out.
http://rs-xv550.blogspot.com/

wait wait.... he REMOVED the RS250 2 stroke to add a SXV550 motor?  

Mother of god....  WHY?!?!?!  

So he can rebuild the motor and replace expensive parts???   2 strokes are SIMPLE, and work.  Why in the hell would someone want to make a bike more complicated and more maintenance intensive with less power??  I know, lets go get a bimota Vdue, and put a honda WR426 motor in it....cause it would be cool ?!?!?

[fasterblkduc]

wait wait.... he REMOVED the RS250 2 stroke to add a SXV550 motor?  

Mother of god....  WHY?!?!?!  

So he can rebuild the motor and replace expensive parts???   2 strokes are SIMPLE, and work.  Why in the hell would someone want to make a bike more complicated and more maintenance intensive with less power??  I know, lets go get a bimota Vdue, and put a honda WR426 motor in it....cause it would be cool ?!?!?

[whispering voice]   pssst....Taft.....hey man, 2 smokes are going away....gotta save mother earth or something like that  [whispering voice over]


I'm pretty sure that both Honda and Yamaha are not "officially" making any more TZ or RS GP bikes. It was either this year or next. That's why the Moriwaki 250 is out there. I'm with you...I'm sad for the death of the 2 strokes too. Someone's got to come up with a replacement and the best two ideas so far are this Priller, and the Moriwaki 250.

[TAftonomos]

Don't get it, never will.

The hippe-tree hugger argument doesn't work.  I betya that one 18 wheels transport cab pulling into and out of a parking lot puts out more toxic crap than the entire 125 and 250 moto GP fields COMBINED for an entire race!

Hmmm lets see.....  I know, we'll make them run 4 strokes, which need ultra exotic materials for the valve train to live at sustained high RPM's, instead of a 2 smoker that will rev to the moon and back as long as the crank's been setup right and there is oil in the gas.    That'll make it "Cheaper" for the average joe to get into racing, and upkeep for the season.

RPM means different things to different people.  For 4 strokes in racing, it should stand for "Ruins people's motors"

[Spidey]

Weight & power?  Is it 71hp and around 300 (in street trim)?  I would have dirty, sweet sexing with a bike with those specs.  <insert humping emoticon>

[TAftonomos]

It's a track-only chassis/bike, unless it is a converted cup aprilia (garbage and big money).  A real 250 bike doesn't have a VIN, comes in a crate from the rising sun (or Austria).

If you can register a RS250 chassis (the real deal, not the cup bike garbage), you ought to leave the 70hp 2 smoker in it and ride it that way.  If you don't want to, please let me know how to register one, I'll go find a TZ250 and start riding it on the street  

Box-stock RS250's were 70bhp and 135kg (297lbs).  STOCK

Great fab work, bike looks sick....and I bet it rips.  But keep the smokers smoking

[mikeb]

No they don't. There are several guys racing these in tard form against SV650s and absolutely dominating. You are thinking of singles.

The service intervals may not be the same as an MX single but how are their engines doing otherwise.

The 3 locals who have shown up at local trackdays with SXV's have all said they are a nightmare to keep running.  One has changed hands 3 times.  Each owner selling it within a month of getting it.  Up for sale again with oil/coolant leaking issues.

[fasterblkduc]

The service intervals may not be the same as an MX single but how are their engines doing otherwise.

The 3 locals who have shown up at local trackdays with SXV's have all said they are a nightmare to keep running.  One has changed hands 3 times.  Each owner selling it within a month of getting it.  Up for sale again with oil/coolant leaking issues.

I talked recently with one of the guys running one and asked him about it because there are tons of street owners having those issues. He told me that if you just tear it down in the beginning and fix the issues, after that they are fine. So I'm guessing that all of the people racing them are doing this. Aprilia supposedly fixed the issues after the '08 models.

[mikeb]

I talked recently with one of the guys running one and asked him about it because there are tons of street owners having those issues. He told me that if you just tear it down in the beginning and fix the issues, after that they are fine.

That's what they need to remedy because the motor's reputation is somewhat tarnished due to the early model year issues. 

The owner's I've talked to all say the motor is amazing though.  I hear the SXV is a blast to ride.  Have to imagine in an RS chassis it'd be killer.